gerstle



J. GERSTLE.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION F|LD1uNE9.1919.

Patented June 1, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l NI l Fig, l

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J. GERSTLE.`

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

APPLICATION f|LED1uNE9.1919.

1,342,378. Patente June 1, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN GERSTLE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRO CHEMICALCOMPANY, 0F DAYTON, OIIIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL.

Application le. June 9, 1919.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN GERSTLE, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Eleetrolytic Cells, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electrolyticcells.

One of the important objects of my invention is to provide a simple andhighly eflicient diaphragm hypochlorite cell by forming the chlorin andcaustic soda in separate chambers, and thereafter mixing them to formthe hypochlorite in bathed chambers that, while they are an integralpart of the cell, are separate and distinct from the first namedchambers. The hypochlorite is therefore prevented from coming in contactwith the electrodes.

It is highly undesirable that the hypo# chlorite should come in contactwith either the anode or cathode, for this leads to secondary reactionswhich destroy the hypochlorite, changing it back to the original salt(sodium chlorid). During the electrolysis, the hypochlorite at thecathode is reduced by nascent hydrogen generated at that electrode,while at the anode the OOl ions in the hypochlorite are oxidized to OlO3ions; that is, chlorate is produced. So long as any hypochlorite comesin contact with either electrode, these reactions will take place,resulting in a wastage of a portion of the current by convertingl thehypochlorite back to ordinary salt and thus lowering the efficiency ofthe cell.

My invention obviates the above current losses by the provision of meansfor preventing the hypochlorite from coming in contact with eitherelectrode.l and at the same time for forming it at the rate at which thechlorin and caustic soda are produced, by mixing the chlorin. andcaustic thoroughly and -economically in a batlled chamber or chambersthat are separate and distinct from the chambers in which said chlorinand caustic are formed. The batlied chamber or chambers make it possiblefor the chlorin to be absorbed by the caustic soda in a thorough mannerand in a rela- Y tively small space.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in thefollowing speci- Specicatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Serial No. 302,672.

lication and particularly set forth in the subj oined claims.

One form or embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a front elevational view ofmy improved electrolytic cell. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, partly insection. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the recessed portion of the rubbergasket between the asbestos diaphragms. Fig. 4 is a front view of thebaliled mixing chamber, with the outside cover board removed. And Fig. 5is a side view of said mixing chamber and cover, in place on thesupporting member.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference charactersdenote corresponding parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates arelatively flat member that may be constructed of concrete, soapstone orany other material. that resists chlorin, caustic and hypochlorite.Preferably provided in the middle portion of the member 1 is arectangular opening or hole 2 adapted to receive an anode El preferablyconstructed of graphite. lilach face of the anode 8, when the latter isin place within the opening 2, is slightly below the outer surfaces ofthe member 1, while a space is left between the top of the anode and thetop of the hole 2 to permit the free exit of chlorin and chlorinatedbrine.

Leading to the anode 3, through a longitudinal hole or channel 4 in themember 1, is a bar 5 that is secured at its outer end to a bus barconnection 6. In the upper end of said channel l around the bar 5, putty7 is placed to prevent gas leakage.

Placed on each side of the member 1, to cover completely the opening 2,is a rectangular diaphragm 8 preferably constructed of asbestos or othersuitable porous material. Surrounding each diaphragm 8 is a rubberborder 9 of the same thickness as the diaphragm. Placed against theouter edge of each diaphragm 8 and its respective rubber border 9, is aspacing gasket 10 preferably constructed of rubber and of greater widthat the top than at the bottom. Resting against each rubber gasket 10 isa second asbestos diaphragm 11, there being formed between eachdiaphragm 8 and each diaphragm 11, a brine chamber 12 to which saltbrine is conducted as foll lows:

Referring to Figs. l and 2, there extends downwardly through the topportion of the member 1, at one side of the longitudinal hole 1 a brineinlet 13 which terminates at its lower end in two right-angled branches111-, each one of which communicates, through a hole in its respectivediphragm 8 and a cut-awayjportion of the rubber gasket 10, with. itsrespective chamber 12, to deliver salt brine thereto. rl`he rubbergaskets 10 are recessed as shown in Fig. 3 not only to admit salt brineto the chambers 12, but to provide iins 15 and 16 that press thediaphragms S tightly against the member lraround the inlet openings141-, for the purpose of preventing' the brine seeping into the chambers17 between the anode and said diaphragms 8.

Seated against each diaphragm 11, is a perforated cathode plate 13preferably constructed of iron. Resting against the outer marginalportion of each cathode 18, is a spacing gasket 19 preferablyconstructed of rubber. Seated against each gasket 19 is a4 rectangularboard 2O constructed of fiber or other suitable caustic resistingmaterial. There is thus formed on each side of the member 1, between thecathode 1S and fiber board 20, a caustic chamber 21. Studs 22,preferably four in number, project through the fiber boards 20 andintervening parts, to clamp them firmly together by means of nuts 23applied to the outer ends of said studs.

Secured to one side of the member 1, below the chambers just described,is a baffled hypochlorite mixing chamber 24; provided with an outsidecover 25 constructed of any suitable material for resisting chlorin,caustic and hypochloritc. (See Figs. 2 and 1.)

Preferably communicating with the lower portion of each caustic formingchamber 21, through a cork insert 2G extending into an opening in eachfiber board 20, is the upper end of a caustic drain tube 27, said tubescommunicating at their lower ends with the top portion of the baiiledmixing chamber 2li through a port 4H?, to deliver caustic soda thereto.To ports 29 and 30 provided in said chamber, chlorin and chlorinated.brine are respectively delivered by a channel 31 which extendsdownwardly from the anode chambers 17 through the member 1, said.channel having a right-angled branch 31a which communicates with theport' 29 to deliver chlorin thereto and a right-angled terminal portion32 that communicates with the port 30 to deliver to it chlorinatedbrine.

Referring to Fig. 11, the baii'led chamber 24: is divided into an upperand a lower section by va partition 33, one end 34 of which,

being enlarged, is secured to an end wall 35 of the chamber, while theother endL of said aartition ti-n'minates in an upturnerl baffle portion3G between which and the other end wall 37 of the chamber a wide spaceis provided. Secured to the enlarged portion 34 of the partition 33, isan upright baille 38 thatv forms between it and the end wall 35 achannel which the chlorin enters from the port 29. From the top 39 ofthe chamber 2li, a short baffle 110 extends downwardly toward the baille33, a small space L1l being left between them to admit the chlorin to achannel provided between the baffle 38 and a battle L12 which projectsdownwardly from the top 39 of the chamber, and then horizontally towardthe upturned projection 36 of the partition 33, and then upwardly,horizontally and downwardly over said projection 33 to a point justabove its middle portion, as shown in F ig. There is thus providedbetween the baille and partition 33, a channel 13 which conducts thechlorin to a point where it enters the space between the baille 42 andthe end wall 37 and top 39 of the chamber. Projecting downwardly fromthe top 39 of the chamber are baffles 15, between the upright portionsof the baille Ll-2 and terminating a short dis tance above thehorizontal bottom portion of the latter. Projecting upwardly from thehorizontal bottom portion of said baille 42, between the baffles `15,are battles which terminate at points a short distance below the top ofthe chamber. Since the caustic soda enters the chamber 2li at the pointL17, its head will cause it to `tlow between the bailles and 1-(5 towardand tln'ough the space 114:, becoming thoroi ily mixed with the chlorinwhich passes through it from the opposite (ilirection.

The hypochlorite thus formed passes into and through a channel L18provided between the partition 33 and a battle 19 having at one end adownwardly projecting portion between whieb and the end wall 35 et thechamber 24 is a space which receives the chlorinated brine from the portProjecting downwardly from the baille a are a series of baiileprojections 50 which terminate a short distance above the bottom 52 ofsaid chamber. Projecting upwardly from said chamber bottom 52, betweenthe baille projections 51, are a series of baille projections whichterminate a short distance below the horizontal portion of the baillel19. There is thus provided between the baiile projections 51 and 53, acircuit-ous course for the hypochlorite, which enables the latter toabsorb from'rhe chlorinated brine, any chlorin that it may contain. Thehypochlorite then lpasses into the space between the last baffleprojectionV 51 and the end wall 37 of the chamber, at the upper end ofwhich space there is an exit port 5i from which the hypochlorite may bewithdrawn in any suitable manner. (See the arrows in Fig. 4.)

In operation, the salt brine entersV the channel 13 and flows, partthrough one branch 14 to the chamber between the diaphragms 8 and 11 onone side of the member 1, and the other part through the other branch 14to the chamber between the diaphragms 8 and 11 on the opposite side ofthe member 1. To each middle chamber 17 between a diaphragm 8 and theanode 3, part of the brine will flow from the middle chambers justmentioned. In the anode or inner chambers 17, chlorin will be generatedwhen a current of electricity flows through the cell, the chlorin andchlorinated brine passing into the channel 31. which conducts thechlorin to the port 29, and the chlorinated brine to the port 30, in themixing chamber 24.

The remaining part of the brine in the middle chambers between thediaphragncs 8 and 11, Hows through the diaphragms 11 and perforatedcathode plates 18, into the chambers 21 Jformed between said cathodeplates and the fiber boards 20. In the latter chambers on the cathodescaustic soda is Jformed when an electric current flows through the cell,said caustic passing from said chambers 21 into the drain tubes 27,which conduct it to the receiving port 47 in the mixing chamber 24.

The hypochlorite mixing chamber 24 is so divided by the partition 33that the upper section, through its series of battles, will be for theabsorption of the chlorin gas by the caustic, while the lower battledsection is designed for the absorption by the hypochlorite, of any gasdissolved in the brine. The chlorin gas, which is admitted to thechamber 24 through the port 29, passes through the opening 41 into thechannel 42, which in turn conducts it to the space 44,

where it starts on its Zig zag path between Y the baiies 45 and 46,flowing through the caustic soda which moves between said baflies fromthe opposite direction after entering said chamber through the port 47.The caustic solution as it flows toward the chamber wall 37, absorbs thechlorin gas. It then passes through the channel 48, and over the port 30where the chlorinated brine enters, into the space between the baiiies51 and 53, where it absorbs the chlorin gas which the brine contains,linally leaving the chamber through the port 54 as sodium hypochlorite.The port 54 is so placed that the channel 48 is filled with liquor toform a liquid seal at the point 56, for the purpose of preventing thechlorin gas from entering the lower chamber section. A similar level iscarried in the channel 31 at the point 57, to prevent the chlorin gasfrom flowing first into the lower system of baiiles.

For the purpose of readily ascertaining the height of the salt brine inthe cell, a gage 59 is provided. The latter is secured, by means of acork insert 60, in the outer end of a horizontal channel 61 that leadsthrough the member 1 to the brine inlet channel 13 within the latter.(See Fig. 1)'.

Provided in each fiber board 20, at points within the active electrodespace, are two holes 62, for the escape of hydrogen when caustic sodaand hydrogen are formed on the cathodes by the action of the electriccurrent.

By providing the baffled mixing chamber 24 in the cell, separate anddistinct from the chlorin and caustic forming chambers, there is nodanger of the hypochlorite coming in contact with the electrodes toeffect the current losses heretofore mentioned. keeping said chambersapart in the same cell, the hypochlorite not only is formed at the rateat which the caustic and chlorin is produced, but is kept away from theelectrodes, with the result that the efficiency of the cell is greatlyincreased.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electrolytic cell, means for forming chlorin and caustic sodaseparately' therein, and separate means that are a part of said cell tormixing the chlorin and caustic soda as they are formed.

2. In an electrolytic cell, means for forming chlorin and caustic sodaseparately therein, and a separate chamber attached to said cell formixing the chlorin and caustic soda at the rate at which they areformed.

3. In an electrolytic cell, separate chambers therein for formingchlorin and caustic soda, and a chamber that is a part of said cellseparate and distinct from the first named chambers `for mixing thechlorin and caustic soda at the rate at which they are formed and out ofcontact with the electrodes.

4. In an electrolytic cell, means for formling chlorin and caustic sodaseparately therein, and separate bailied means that are a part of saidcell Jfor mixing chlorin and caustic soda as they are formed.

5. In an electrolytic cell, means for forming chlorin and caustic sodaseparately therein, and a baiiied chamber attached to said cell,separate from the forming means, for thoroughly and economically mixingsaid-chlorin and caustic soda as they are Jformed.

6. In an electrolytic cell, a relatively flat member containing acentral opening, an anode in said opening, a middle and an outer chamberJformed on each side of said opening, a cathode between each middle andouter chamber, means for conducting salt brine to each middle chamber, amixing chamber secured to said flat member out of contact with saidanode and cathode, and

Thus in i between the `diaphragms of each pair, a

perforated cathode against the outer diaphragm of each pair, a washerseated `against said cathode, a fiber board in tight engagement with thelast named washer, a mixingchamber secured to said Hat member below andout of contact with said anode and cathode, and means for conductingchlorin from said anode, and caustic soda from fthe vchamber between thecathode and fiber board, to said mixing chamber.

8. In an electroyltic cell, a relatively flat member containing acentral opening, an anode in said opening, a pair of porous diaphragmson each side of said opening, to form a brine -receiving chamber, agasket between the diaphragms of each pair, a perforated cathodeseatedagainst the diaphragm of each pair, a gasket seated against saidcathode, -a fiber board secured against the last named gasket, `abaflled mixing chamber secured to said flat member below land out ofContact with said anode and cathode, and means for conducting thechlorin from said` anode, and the caustic soda Jfrom said cathode, todifferent inlets in said mixing chamber.

9. In an electrolytie cell, a relatively flat member containing acentral opening, an anode in said opening, a pair of porous diaphragmsVon each side of said opening, a marginal washer surrounding each innerdiaphragm, a gasket between the diaphragms kof each pair, said flatmember hav ing a brine conducting channel which communicates through ahole in each inner diaphragm, anda recessed portion of the gasket, withthe chamber formed between each pair of diaphragms, a perforated cathodeseated against the outer diaphragm of each pair, a second gasket seatedagainst each cathode, a liber board secured against the last Anamedgasket, a baii'ied mixing chamber secured to said iiat member below andout vof contact with said anode and cathode, and means for conductingthe chlorin from said anode, and the caustic soda formed on saidcathode, to different inlets in said mixing chamber.

10. In an electrolytic cell, separate chambers for forming chlorin andcaustic soda therein, a mixing chamber attached to the cell,rbelow theforming chambers, means for conducting said chlorin and caustic soda toseparate .inlets in said mixing chamber, baifies in said mixing chamber,and means in said chamber for directing the chlorin and caustic sodaaround said baffles from opposite directions, whereby the caustic sodawill absorb the chlorin.

11. In an electrolytic cell, separate chambers for 'forming chlorin andcaustic soda therein, a mixing chamber attached to the cell, below theforming chambers, a partition dividing said mixing chamber into an upperand lower section, bafiies in each section of said mixing chamber, meansfor conducting the caustic soda to one end of said `mixing chamber, theupper section of said mixing chamber communicating at the other end withthe lower section, and a conduit having an upper branch which conductschlorin vto Vthe upper section of said mixing chamber, and a branch thatdelivers chlorinated brine to the lower section of said mixing chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of June,1919.

JOHN GERSTLE.

fitness HOWARD S. SMITH.

